Cuff link



vA. J. KENNEDY CUFF LINK Filed Aug. 16, 1924 Patented Dec. 1, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ANDREW J. KENNEDY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO PARKS BROS. & ROGERS, INC., OF PROVIDENQE, RHODE ISLAND, A CORPORATION OF RHODE ISLAND.

CUFF LINK.

Application filed August 16, 1924. Serial No. 732,425.-

To all coir-0m it may concern Be it known that 1, ANDREW J. KENNEDY, acitizen of the United States ofAmerica, residing at 1309 Farwell Avenue, Chicago, in the county of Cook, State of Illinois, United States of America, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cuff Links, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in cuff links particularly of the type which comprises separable cuff buttons.

One of the principalobjects of the invention is to provide a cuff link consisting in separable cuff buttons which are adapted to lie at an angle to one another to accommodate the natural slant of the cuff.

vAnother object of the invention is to provide a construction of cuff link consisting in separable cuff buttons which can be coupled so as not to become disengaged when the cuff itself is tightened upon the arm.

Another object of the invention is to provide a cuff link consisting in separable cuff buttons which can be cheaply and easily manufactured and which are of a construction permitting the fullest decoration of the head of the cuff button by engraving or by the mounting of precious stones therein.

Another object of my invention is to provide a cuff link, consisting of two cooperatplementary latch portions adapted to couple said members after said portions are brought into contact with each other, preferably in a true axial line, and said members are manually tilted.

A further object of my invention is to provide a separable cuff link which can be inserted and locked in any way or in any position in clay-light or darkness. I

A further object of my invention is to 111g members, each having cooperating comjecting knobs or parts on the base of said members so as not to interfere in any way with the placing of the usual desirable de-c Figure 1 shows a cuff link in accordance with the present invention in normal position in a shirt cuff.

Figure- 2 is a section on a larger scale showing the cuff buttons arranged in line with one another.

Figure 3 is a view in elevation showing the cuff buttons separate from one another.

Figure 4 is a section on the line 4-4: of Figure 1. p

Flgure 5 1s a view showing the cuff buttons in the position in which they are about to be engaged. V

Figure 6 is a section on the line 6-6 of Figure 1.

Figure 7 is a view of one of the cuff buttons mounted in a shirt cuff. I

As illustrated in the drawings it will be seen that the cuff link consists in two cuff buttons indicated generally by the reference characters A, B. I

The cuff button A comprises a base a a stem a and a cylindrical coupling member or head a Similarly the cufi button B comprises a base 6 a stem 6 and a cylindrical coupling member 6 As will be seen, each stem is flat and is arranged with its greatest dimension at right angles to the cylindrical coupling member attached thereto. Each cuff button is carried in the buttonhole C of the shirt cuff D as shown in Figure 7,

the fiat stem at? or 6 serving to hold the cuff button from turning in said buttonhole. in inserting the cuff button into the button hole (J one end of the cylindrical coupling member is first introduced through the buttonhole and the cylindrical coupling mem her then passed coin letely therethrough. After this, the. on button is rotated through an angle of degrees so that the cylindrical coupling member 1ies-- trans-- verse to-the length-of the hole,- thus brings;

ing the flat stem a or b? intolinewith-the buttonhole. \Vhen the two cuff buttons A and B arethus inserted in the buttonholes;

of the shirt cuff, the cylindrical coupling members a and b whenb'rou ht to ether will be substantially in alignment and in position to be engaged "with one another.

As is evident from the drawings, par tieu'larly- Figures & and- 5, the cylindrical coupling *member Z7 has an opening at one end through which projects a plunger 6 pressed-outwardly by a spring bicontained within the coupling member 6 The opena end of the coupling member 1s-cylrndrrcall constricted as shown atE-Z) Fi s; 4

and 5) af ter insertion of the plunger 6 and spring Z2 sofas-to retain the plunger'b m position; The-oth-er coupling member a as will also be seenpartic-ularly'fromFigure- 5, 18 in the form", of" a hollow'cylrnder, a

portion of the cylindrical surface of which has been cut away, to permitthecoupling.-

member *6 to be inserted thereinto.

The couplingmenrbers(t -and b 'are engaged with oneanotlier as is-a'lso shownin Figure 5 by the insertion of oneend of the" coupling v member 6 within the coupling member a land in contact with one end thereof While the body of the coupling member 6 lies at an angle to'the body of The coupling the-- coupling member a r member 6 1s then-moved towardthe-couplingmember Cb ,,tl18, resilient plunger" b drical couplin'ggmembers. Thetwo cuff,

buttons, however, have an angular 11love ment about this axls which-1s llIHltG'Cl in the:followmgmanner;

In order to couple the cooperating latclr portions a and 6 ofthe cuffi'linksA and" B, it'is-obvious that two motions are neces sai'y', namely (1)' to bring the portion 5 into contact with the coniplementa-r r por-' tion preferably by bringingthe stems or shanks a and Z2 ofsaid links 'togetherin" substantially a true axialline as explained above when the coupling member 6 will pass into the coupling member to engage said members together, after said portions (6 and b? have been thus engaged tomanually relatively tlltsaid l nks, when theupper edges ofthe sides of the hollow coup ling member a overlapping the upperedge of the cylindrical coupling member'b and the shank b sinking, into the slot 'a-i will couple said members together so that it is impossible to pull them apart on a pull as would be exerted by the cuffs in; use (see lfig, It is obvious however, that the cuff links A and B when in this position are; not securely interlocked at an angle to one another, but though coupled are free to pivot towardeaoh-other, the cylindrical coupling member 6 revolving, within the hollow coupling member a Reference t0-Figures 1, 2 'and3 "willshow that th'e fiat stems a and b have a width which-is greater thanthe diameterof the shoulder on eaclrsideof the coupling members (4 and I);

side .of' the coupling member L form equal angles with'thecenter linea 00 of the cuff button B. lnother words, theangl'eE is equal to the-anglell'. Inthecase'of the cuff button A, however, the" shouldersa and 0: form unequal angles with the center line of the button A. The shoulder a is positioned beyond 'the axis of the cylindrical; coupling member a and is substantially perpendicular to thecenter line w, m the angle 1G being therefore substantially a right angle. On the other hand the shoulder (6 slopes rearwardly' in such a manner that the angle H is. considerably greater'tha'n any of the anglesE, F, or G.

Aisshown inFigure 1, the shoulders "a and.

Zfiare incontact withone another when the buttonsA, B lie at an angle to one another iiithe positionin' which the bases (1- and b accommodate the natural sla'nt'of the cuff" D. lvhenphowever, theycuff buttons A, B are substantially in a straight line position as shown. in Figure 2, the shoulders (1 and 1 b7; are in contact and prevent movement of the cuff buttons A and- B beyond this straight line position.

The cuilbuttons can be disengaged from oneanother by pressing on the basesa and b inwardly of the'axis' of the coupling member's in linewith the stem a and 1111- mediately beyond the shoulder a lVhen the'two buttons A and B lie at an angle to its is shown most clearly 111F1gure 3, the shoulders b and b oneach cylindricalcoupling members a and-b In this manner th-ereispromded-a surface-or one another as shown in Figure l, the stem 11 of the button 13 enters this slot (4 until the shoulder Z2 is in contact with the shoulder a.

As has already been explained, the cuff buttons occupy this relatively angular position in accommodating the natural slant of the cuff. If at any time the cuff is tightened upon the arm of the wearer, it is obvious that the cuff will pull upon the bases a? and 6 of the buttons A and B and tend to separate the buttons. This separation can not be effected, however, without a relative movement of the coupling members a and b similar to that which is necessary in engaging the members and as has already been described in connection with Figure 5.

Figure 6 shows the cuff buttons in position with the shoulder b of button B in contact with shoulder a of button A, the base b of button B not appearing in that figure since it is above the plane of the paper. It will be seen, however, that if the upper end of the coupling member 6 is to be pulled out of the coupling member a, it is necessary that the member Z2 move about the point of contact of its lower end with the member a as a center. In such movement, the side I) of the stem 6 which faces away from the lower end of the coupling member 6 will come into contact with the opposing side (2 of the slot a and effectively prevent the necessary angling movement of the coupling member 6 in relation to the coupling member a to permit disengagement of the members. In other words, the but-- tons A and B can not be separated by a pull upon the cuff of the shirtwhen they lie at an angle to one another to accommodate the natural slant of the cuff, and after they have become coupled with each other by bringing the complementary latch portions a and 6 together and manually tilting said members as explained above.

Each of the stems a and b is formed with a slot a and b so as to provide spaced points of attachment between the stem a and base a of button A and between the stem Z1 and the base 79 of button B. .This permits the base a or b to be pierced centrally to provide for the mounting of a precious stone in the base, if such is desired. It will also be seen that the bases a and b may be engraved or otherwise decorated in any desired manner.

It is obvious that the coupling members a and 6 function as heads of the cuff links A and B and as cooperating complementary latch portions to couple said members A and B together.

Each of the cuff buttons is simple in construction and can be manufactured without the employment of expensive or special machinery.

It is to be understood that the construction shown herein represents only one embodimentof my invention and that changes and modifications can be made within the spirit and scope of the subjoined claims.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A cud link comprising in combination separable cuff buttons each consisting in a base, a stem attached to said base, and a coupling member attach-ed to the free end of said stem, said coupling members permitting relative movement of the buttons about one axis only so that the buttons may lie at an angle to one another to accommodate the natural slant of the cuff and also permitting the buttons to be disengaged from each other by pressure applied inwardly and at one side of the said axis, the coupling member or" one button being adapted to receive the coupling member of the other button, and a slot in one side of the first cy lindrical coupling member to receive the stem of the other button when the buttons lie at an angle as mentioned.

2. A cuff link comprising in combination separable cuff buttons each consisting in a base, a stem attached to said base, and a coupling member attached to the free end of said stem, the coupling member of one button having a resilient plunger extending through one end thereof and being there by adapted to enter the coupling member of the other button, said coupling mem here when engaged permitting relative movement of the buttons about one axis only so that the buttons may lie at an angle to one another to accommodate the natural slant of the cuff and also permitting the buttons to be disengaged from each other by pressure applied inwardly at one side of the said axis.

3. A cuff link comprising in combination separable cuff buttons each consisting in a base, a coupling member, a stem connecting said base and coupling member and providing a shoulder on each side of the latter, said coupling members permitting relative movement of the buttons about one axis only so that the buttons may lie at an an gle to one another to accommodate the natural slant of the cuff the extent of such relative movement being limited by engagement of the corresponding pair of said shoulders.

4;. A cuff link comprising in combination separable cuff buttons each consisting in a base, a coupling member, a stem connecting said base and coupling member and providing a shoulder on each side of the latter, said coupling members permitting relative movement on the buttons about one axis ohly so that the buttons may lie at an angle to one another to accommodate the natural slant of the end, and also permitting the buttonsto be disengaged from each other by pressure applied inwardly of the said axis,

base, a flat stem attached tosaid base,- and a' cylindrical coupling member attached transversely to thefreeend otsa-id'stem,

resilient plunger extending} through one: endthereof and being thereby adapted to enter the coupling member of 'the' otlier button; said coupling 11lGI11bB1S"Wl1ED-' engaged permitting relative movementot"the buttons about one axis only so that the buttons may lie at an angle to one another to a'ec'onr modatethe natural slant of thecuff and also permitting' the buttons to be disengaged.-

from each other by pressure appliedinwardly of the said axis,

6. A'cuft lurk-comprising in combinat on separable cufi butto-nsfeach: consistingun' a base, a flat stem attached to said-base; and 1 a cylindrical couplii member attache-d transversely ofthefree-end o't' said stein,

the couplingmember of "one button haV-ing'a resilien-t plunger extending through one end thereof and being-thereby adapted to -e'nterthe coupling member of the other button, said coupling members when engaged per= mitting relative movement or the buttons about one axis only so that'the butons may" lie at an angle to one another'to aecom-' nioda te-th'e' natural slant of the culf and also permitting the buttons to be" diseng'zcgeel ir oin each other by pressure-applied in- Wardly'oi thesa-id axis, aslot in one:-' sideofthe: latter coupling memberadapted'when' the buttons'lie' at an angle toone-anothen to receive the stem of the i other button and cooperating with said stem to preventdis engagement of: the coupling members.

7. A cuff link comprising'iircombination" separable cufl i buttons-each consisting in abase, a cylindrical coupling-unember, a flat stemtransversely arranged to said member and connectingthesamewith said b'ase, a' shoulder on said stem on each side of said coupling member, said 'coup'ling members: permitting relative movement of the-buttons about one axis only so that the: buttons may lie at an angle to one another to a'c'commo'date' the natural slant oftlie'buif," and also permitting the buttons to be disengaged trom each other by pressure applied inwardo't-the SllCl axis, the extent of 'sneh'relative movement being limited byengageme nt of the corresponding pair of said shoulders '8. A cuff'linl; comprising-incombin'ation separable cuff buttons eaclr consisting in a base, a cylindrical coupling member, a flat stem transversely arranged to said member and connecting the same with said base; a shoulder onsaidstein on each side of 'sa-iol' coupling member, the coupling-memberof'j one button having a resilient plungerextending through one' end thereof and being therebynd'apted to eirter the coupling menn bcr of the other button, said .couplingmenn bers when engaged permitting relative more 7 nient ofthe' buttons about-oneaxis onlyso that the buttons'may lie at'an angle to' one another to accommodate the natural slant oi the coupling 1118111 061" of one button having athe cuff, and also permitting the buttons to be d-isengagediroin each otherby pressure-T appliedinwardly ofthe-said axis, theextent of sucli relative movement being limited by engagement of the corresponding pair of said shoulders 9. A. cuttlink comprising in combination separable cuil' f buttons each comprising a 2 base, a stern and a coupling 'member at tach'ed'to thei'fr'ee end ofsaid stem; a shoulder-on said stem on eaclr side ofxsaid 0on plinginember to limiti-elativeangi'ilarmove in-ent of the bu ttonsivhen engaged, the shoal-f ders on the ste'mof one button formingequal angles with the center line of the stem.- 7 of thatbntton. e

10; A'cutl' link comprisingin combination separable cur'i' buttons each" comprising a base, a stem" and :1- coiqblingmembei attached to ti c treeend of i said "stem, and a shoulder on s -s-t-en'r on each side o'f sa-id couplinginen'rber to, limitu'elative' ai'i'gular movement of the buttons when engaged, the shoulders; on' the stem offone -butto'n forming unequal angles with the" centers 'lin e oi the stemof thatlmtton':

11. A e ufi link comprisi'n m combination 1 separable cutl bntto'ns each consisting in a base, a stem-*a-nda coupling membei attached to anefre'e'end of said stem,- and 1 a shoulder on said stein on each- -si de of said coupling member to" limit relative angular 'moven'ient of. the-buttons when engaged; thevshoulde'rs on the stem. of onebutton forming: equal angles witll the center line'of thestem of that button, and the shou-lderson the stein ott-he other 'button forming unequal -angles with the-center-line1 Of' thHSt GHI Of said other button. i

12. A cut? button comprising a base, a stem attached to said base; and a cylindrical coupling" member attached tothe free end of said stem, said cylindricalconpling mom ber containing a resilient plunger extending through one end thereof;

131A cuff button comprising a base, a flat stem attached to said base and 'aflcylindrical coupling member attached transversely-to the free end of said stem, said cylindrical coupling member containing a resil ient' plunger extending through one end thereof. a

14. A cufi' 'button comprising-a base, a stem attached to said base, a' cylindrical coupling member attached to the free end of said stem, said cylindrical coupling'm'em ber containing a'resilient plnngeneXtending loo through one end thereof, and a shoulder on said stem on each side of said coupling member.

15. A cuti button comprising a base, a flat stem attached to said base, a cylindrical coupling member attached transversely to the free end of said stem, said cylindrical coupling member containing a resilient plunger extending through one end thereof, and a shoulder on said stem on each side of said coupling member. a

16. A cutl' button comprising a base, a flat stem attached to said base, a cylindrical coupling member attached transversely to the free end of said stem, said cylindri "al coupling member containing a resilient plunger extending through one end thereof and a shoulder on said stem on each side of said coupling member, said shoulders forming equal angles with the center line of said stem.

17. A cutl' button comprising a base, a stem attached to said base, a cylindrical coupling member attached to the free end of said stem, said cylindrical coupling memher having an opening in the cylindrical surface thereof, a shoulder on said stem on each side of said coupling member, said shoulders forming unequal angles with the center line of said stem, and a slot in one side of the coupling member in line with the stem and extending from the opening in the cylindrical surface of the coupling member to the shoulder on that side of said coupling member.

18. A cuti button comprising a base, a stem attached to said base, a cylindrical coupling member attached to the free end of said stem, said cylindrical coupling member having an opening in the cylindrical surface thereof, a shoulder on said stem on each side of said coupling member, said shoulders forming unequal angles with the center line of said stem, and a slot in one side of the coupling member in line with the stem and extending from the shoulder forming the greater angle with the center line of the stem to the opening in the cylindrical surface of the coupling member.

19. For use as part of a cult button, a structure comprising a stem adapted to carry a base, a cylindrical coupling member attached to one end of said stem, and a slot in the other end of said stem, 21 shonlder on said stem on each side of said coupling member, said cylindrical coupling member containing a resilient plunger extending from one end thereof.

20. A cuff link comprising in combination separable cuff buttons, one of said buttons comprising a base, a stem and a hollow coupling member and the other button comprising a base, a stem and a cooperating coupling member adapted to interlock within said hollow coupling member, said coupling member permitting relative move ment of the buttons about one axis only and means holding said coupling members interlocked.

21. A cult link comprising in combination sepa able cutt buttons, one of said members comprising a base, a stem and a hollow coupling member and the other button comprising a base, a stem and a cooperating coupling member adapted to interlock with in said hollow coupling member, said coupling member permitting relative movement of the button about one axis only and a spring yieldably holding said cooperating coupling member interlocked with said hollow coupling member.

2:2. A cult link comprising in combination separable cuft' buttons, one of said buttons comprising a base, a stem and a hollow coupling member and the other button comprising a base, a stem and a cooperating coupling member adapted to register within said hollow coupling member and spring actuated means operative to hold said coupling members coupled.

23. A separable cuff button comprising two cooperating members each having a head, a shank and a base, the heads of said members comprising cooperating complementary latch portions adapted to couple said members when said portions are brought into contact with each other and said members are manually tilted.

2 1. A separable fastener comprising two members having cooperating complementary latch portions adapted to couple said members after said portions are brought into contact with each other and said members are manually tilted.

25. A separable cutl button comprising two cooperating .members each having a head, a shank and a base, the heads of said members comprising cooperating complementary latch portions adapted to couple said members when said portions are brought into contact witheach other in substantially true axial alinement and said members are manually tilted.

26. A separable fastener comprising two members having cooperating complementary latchportions adapted to couple said members after said portions are brought into contact with each other in substantially true axial alinement and said members are manually tilted.

ANDREW J. KENNEDY, 

